Bible Couples, Pt. 9: Ananias and Sapphira

EYES WIDE OPEN (ACTS 4:32-5:11)

Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the State Fair every year. Every year Stumpy would say, “Martha, I’d like to ride in that airplane.” And every year Martha would say, “I know, Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars.”

This one year Stumpy and Martha went to the fair and Stumpy said, “Martha, I’m 71 years old. If I don’t ride that airplane this year, I may never get another chance.” Martha replied, “Stumpy, that airplane ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars.”

The pilot overheard them and said, “Folks, Ill make you a deal. Ill take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say one word, I won’t charge you, but if you say one word its ten dollars.”

Stumpy and Martha agreed and up they go. The pilot does all kinds of twists and turns, rolls and dives, but not a word is heard. He does all his tricks over again, but still not a word.

They land and the pilot turns to Stumpy, “By golly, I did everything I could think of to get you to yell out, but you didn’t.” Stumpy replied, “Well, I was gonna say something when Martha fell out, but ten dollars is ten dollars.”

The early church in Jerusalem was going through a sustained and incredible period of growth. New believers were added, the fellowship was great and the church was strong. However, not all things were rosy, not all motivation was admirable and not all were converted. Before long, hypocrites, imitators and wannabes were part of the fellowship of the church but not the body of Christ. Distinguishing tares from wheat and goats from sheep before the right time is not impossible, but it is inadvisable. Just before the church received her name and was called as such (v 11) for the first time in the community, an extraordinary but sad and unfortunate incident occurred among the local congregation. Money brought out the ugly side of a couple by the name of Ananias and Sapphira, who played the imitation and impersonation game to perfection and disaster. They thought their secret was safe, they should be praised and nobody would find out.

How could couples be so self-centered and in such self-denial and have no self-awareness after years of marriage? How could two people go so wrong? Why is honesty important to one’s family as well as God’s family?

Choose Each Other for the Better, Not Worse
5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 5:1-2)

What do you look for in a marriage partner? The advice from the Internet on whom to marry is surprisingly rich:
“Don't marry a man to reform him - that's what reform schools are for.” (Mae West)
“Don't marry a lady just to get a travel visa.”
“Don't marry a rich man. Become rich and choose who you marry if you want to marry.”
"Don't marry a nonbeliever. Fast and pray until he becomes a Christian.”
“Don't marry a man unless you are willing to be with him if he never changes.”
“Don't marry a person you don't love.”
“Don't marry a man for his money. You can borrow it cheaper.”

There is truth in the theory that good people are attracted to bad dates and mates. Some of the nicest people are attracted to addicts, abusers, gangsters, gamblers, womanizers, swingers, bums, perverts and criminals. Some of these suitors are high maintenance, some are lowlifes and some are drifters. The pull to change and rehab scoundrels is romantic and idealistic, but unrealistic and fatal.

Husbands and wives choose each other or choose their spouses for their own good or to better themselves, and not for “no-good” or to their detriment. Ananias and Sapphira’s story is one of double trouble, blind leading blind and fools rushing in. They were not good for each other; in fact, they were bad, toxic and unsuited for each other. Marriage did not bring out the best in them, but the worst in them – and it was downright ugly, unbearable and superficial. They did not push each other to new heights, but pulled each other down to new lows. They did not bring out the good or the best in each other but the bad and the worst in each other.

Hollywood would want you to believe that love is blind, but in courtship and marriage, examining the date’s character is more important then his or her charisma; his or her integrity is more important than intelligence; and each other’s moral and family upbringing is more important than social or financial standing. You do not have to marry a perfect person but you definitely want to marry a principled person. You cannot find a spouse with no flaws but you better find one who is honest, honorable and hardworking, one who does not resort to dishonesty or deception. Finding one who is trustworthy and truthful is better than finding one who is talented.

Ananias and Sapphira stood for the couple that was blind to each other’s faults. The two were carbon copies of each other, tied to the hip and twins at birth. Both had no hesitation or shame about telling untruth or telling stories. Lying was part of their life and lifestyle. The Chinese say they tell lies like they eat lettuce. They didn’t bat an eye, skip a heartbeat or blush the face. They didn’t think lying was serious, had consequences or could backfire. Their issue was not the amount or ability in giving, but the attitude in giving. The point in giving is, “Does the gift represent you?” “Is it respectful?” and “Have you reservations?”

The word describing Sapphira’s part in all this is the word suneido, from two Greek words sun or “sum/joint” and eido or “know.” She was an insider, an informed party, part of the cast and in on the plot. Nothing was left out, no base was untouched and no reading between the lines was necessary. She could not cry, “I was framed,” “Don’t blame me” or “I was innocent.” She was the type that went into the marriage with eyes wide open before marriage and eyes shut tight after marriage.

Change Each Other for the Better, Not Worse
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. (Acts 5:3-6)

Changes in a marriage go both ways, never one way. Requiring one’s spouse to change but not self-examination both ways is a marriage killer.

My wife and I change each other for the better. She does not give me a break when it comes to values and principles. Once, I volunteered to drop her off at her 45-minutes away office and pick her up four hours later. My plan was to do some writing at Starbucks and exercise at the fitness center to kill time. After a hearty restaurant breakfast together, I dropped her off at the somewhat vacant parking lot at her office on a Saturday morning, driving not into a parking space between the two vertical lines, but stopping or lining the car parallel to the curb, occupying three car spaces, so that I could conveniently do a U-turn to go the other way. She immediately reacted: “Don’t do that. This will make me feel hurried and the security guard will come.” I responded, “It’s a Saturday morning! There is no security or parking problem. Is this deserving of a lecture?” My wife countered, “Integrity is an everyday issue!” I answered, “Yes, prim and proper.” We both laughed on the spot.

The next day, on the way to dinner with my sister we picked up a copy of the Sunday Chinese papers for my wife. One weakness my wife has is that all activities come to a halt until she has finished reading the paper, magazine or book in her hand. After an hour’s dinner, I asked, “Shall we pay and go?” She peered from her papers and asked, “So fast?” I said, “Why not? There’s no fellowship.” She burst into laughter and said, “OK, I’ll pay the check to make up.” I declared: “I succeeded!”

Spouses have the responsibility to tell each other things that the other does not like to hear, not to vent one’s feelings but to improve the marriage. Of course, it has to be done in a right setting, with the right attitude and the right motivation. My wife claims to be my mirror of realty. Some spousal remarks I consider as mumbo jumbo/luo luo suo suo, hot air and woman’s talk, yet she is my worst critic, best judge and closest observer. Some things are hard to hear and we agree to the adage: “If I don’t nag you, who do I nag?”

Peter rightly rebuked Ananias for his act of giving. The NIV translation “disposal” (v 4) is inferior to the original Greek word exousia, the popular word for “power” or “authority” that occurs 103 times in the New Testament, frequently associated with the power exhibited by Jesus and the apostles. Only in four instances the word is translated other than power or authority: once each for “jurisdiction” (Luke 23:7) and for “freedom/liberty” (1 Cor 8:9), and twice for “right” (Heb 13:10, Rev 22:14).

Giving is not an option, but givers still have the power or jurisdiction to give or not. They are free to offer more, give less or withhold offering. Unlike cult members, church members do not need to sign a letter of intent to pledge to give a tithe. No one forces a gun to the giver’s head, no camera takes a picture of those not giving, no surveillance tape records what you put into the bag and no offering bag makes a racket when merely pennies are offered. Further, the wise pastor never pries into offering.

For a long time Ananias and Sapphira did not keep each another accountable, caution each other of improprieties and encourage each other to do right. This is where the imitation part comes in. The Greek verb “put” (v 2) that describes the Ananias’ action of laying the money at the apostles’ feet was a poor imitation of others’ actions – action without passion and dedication. The verb previously appeared in Acts 4:35 and 4:37. In Acts 4:35, those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the money from the sales to put it at the apostles' feet. Next, Barnabas sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. Ananias had similar actions, but not the right attitude. The portion stated was acceptable, but the proportion stated was unacceptable. The figure was right but the fraction was not. The sum was encouraging, but the share was exaggerated.

Ananias prostrated himself before the apostles with no shame, made a big show out of faulty bookkeeping and made a splash of his big fat lie. The announcement in giving was not condemned, but the accounting was.

The word “heart” is repeated in verses 3 and 4 in Greek, not apparent in NIV, to show that his propaganda was premeditated. Verse 3 should read, “Why have you conceived in your heart this thing?”

Cover Each Other for the Better, Not Worse
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9 Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. (Acts 5:7-11)

I have a relative whose affairs I do not wish to know about. From young relatives had to cover frantically for him. The behavior started when he was working. He borrowed money liberally from friends, relatives and colleagues, making deals, exacting terms and taking risks that other salesmen would decline. When people owed money called home, he would hiss in a menacing tone to those answering the phone as he lingered and eavesdropped: “Say I am not here!” Screening calls was not an option with no answering machines then. It came to a point that everybody had to hope the call was theirs, think of what to say or get out of the house.

Soon, more and more people who were shortchanged by him called the home, asking for him. The lies and denials involved everybody when questions from strangers surrounded and peppered those innocent: “Is he here?” “Where is he?” “When is he coming back?” and “Will you tell him I called?”

Even into his adulthood and midlife the pattern did not stop. After twice visiting the States, he reminded me in no uncertain terms: “Don’t tell my mother I visited you.”

Covering for a dishonest person exacts a heavy price and an emotional toil out of everyone involved. Innocent people are dragged through the mud and rubble by the guilty party. They often have to pay the price of guilt in their heart and mind for the culpable person’s operations.

Of course, Sapphira was anything but innocent, but up to this point readers do not know if she was a conspirator or a victim. Either she was actively scheming with her husband or she had no part in of the plot. Did she know? Was she involved? Sapphira was given a chance to clarify her position or even to change her story, but she stood by her account of events and her version of things. She did not say, “Yes” or “Uh-huh.” Her answer in NIV - “That is the price” - is inferior to the single Greek word answer she gave: tosoutos, or as large, so great (long, many, much), these many. Jesus used this word on four occasions: (1) twice to extol the centurion’s “such great” faith (Matt 8:10, Luke 7:9), (2) once on the prodigal son’s brother who protested that he has been slaving for his father “all these years” (Luke 15:29) and (3) lastly, to answer Philip’s question on showing the Heavenly Father, “Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such ‘a long time’?” (John 14:9)

Sapphira was tantamount to saying, “Yes, that much!’ In the words of a fisherman who lost his catch, “Yes, it was that big!” Her answer was reason enough for Peter to respond to her: “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” The word “agree” is sumphoneo in Greek, sum means “joint/together” and phoneo means “sound” from the word “phone.” Peter was saying, “How could you be such a parrot and sound so alike? How could you voice and echo the same thing? How could you harmonize or concur with his actions?” Sapphira could have sounded differently, but she opted to harmonize with her husband and stick to the same story, with dire consequences.

Peter next accused Sapphira of tempting the Spirit of the Lord, not tempting the leaders of the church. When we act big in church we are lying to the Lord, not to the pastor or members of the church. Lying to people is an unfortunate act but lying to the Spirit is an unspeakable act.

Conclusion: The late Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones said that people often come to church to receive some sweet syrup so they can feel good. Nothing escapes God’s attention. Is your giving a living testimony or an ego trip? Are you a truth listener and practitioner or merely admirer? It’s been said, “Behind every successful man is a successful wife.” However, the best marriage advice is to speak the truth in love. A spouse is a conscience, not a conspirator. A good spouse is both a good cop and a bad cop, in some ways. A good spouse commends good, but condemns falsehood. Finally, does your giving represent you before God or report you before God?